In Brief – School of Architecture & Urban Planning

Building designed by Jim Shields garners awards by Wisconsin Masonry Alliance and Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission

Oliver Jason Johnson — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 20:22:15 +0000

Designed by Jim Shields, FAIA, the new Fitz Apartment Building at 2630 N Hackett Ave in Milwaukee has received two awards: the “Excellence in Clay Masonry Award” and the “Dennis Wilichowski Craftsmanship Award” for the top masonry buildings constructed in Wisconsin. The annual awards program is run by the Wisconsin Masonry Alliance, an organization of masonry product suppliers and masons.

The Fitz features pushed-in and pulled-out brick patterns executed in 16” long clay bricks on street-front facades and light gray concrete bricks on side and rear facades. Horizontal limestone sills become bands that belt the building.

Located in a city historic district, the project has also received the award for “Best New Building in a Historic District” from Milwaukee’s Historic Preservation Commission.

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Kyle Reynolds participates in audio journal examining specific generation of architects

Oliver Jason Johnson — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 21:51:33 +0000

Associate Professor and Interim Head of School Kyle Reynolds recently participated in the audio journal . The issue is created and edited by Joseph Bedford and guest edited and produced by Tim Cox. “Talking about my Generation,” examines a new generation of architects in the United States who came to prominence between 2008 and 2018 and who have developed a unique approach to architecture that eschews high performance in favor of an aesthetic informality. The issue draws together the voices of thirty three young practitioners within this generation.

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SARUP students awarded sponsorship to attend 2026 IIBEC International Convention & Trade Show

Oliver Jason Johnson — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 17:44:13 +0000

Architecture graduate students Sarah Paquette and Megan Winkler, along with BArch student McKenzie Halla, have been awarded full-ride sponsorships to attend the 2026 IIBEC International Convention and Trade Show, March 12–15, 2026, in Sacramento, California. The International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) hosts this annual event for architects, engineers, design professionals and other experts in roofing, waterproofing, fenestration, cladding, building commissioning, and exterior wall technologies, featuring educational sessions, networking opportunities, and a two-day trade show.

According to Professor James Wasley, who recommended the students for the opportunity, the sponsorships cover travel, lodging, and registration expenses and include a one-year student membership in IIBEC for each student.

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HPI students build on earlier work on fish hatchery in Bayfield

Oliver Jason Johnson — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 20:26:58 +0000

The Historic Preservation Institute is partnering with Friends of R.D. Pike on preservation efforts for the historic Les Voight State Fish Hatchery in Bayfield, building on prior work at the site that earned national recognition for 51�� students. The collaboration follows the organization’s receipt of an Enbridge Community Investment Grant, which will support two projects, according to an Ashland Daily Press article: “recreating the front porch that was originally part of the building and restoration of the state crest that graced the top of the porch until the 1950s.” HPI will do the restoration work on state crest this spring.

Read the full article in the .

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Wisconsin Association of Energy Engineers invites Jim Shields to talk about efficiency in design

Oliver Jason Johnson — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 22:13:01 +0000

Jim Shields, FAIA, recently presented before the Wisconsin Association of Energy Engineers (WAEE) at the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center. The Sailing Center is a highly efficient building using both geothermal and photovoltaic on-site energy sources to heat and cool the building. Shields designed the building in 2008.

WAEE invited Shields to talk about the design with a focus on energy efficiency and the geothermal system. After the presentation, he and the engineers had an extensive discussion session about the building and its systems while standing inside the structure.

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Urban Planning faculty present research at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning Conference

Oliver Jason Johnson — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 21:49:54 +0000

Urban Planning faculty recently presented research at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning Conference in Minneapolis. Professor Robert Schneider shared findings on traffic safety trends in large U.S. cities, a presentation that grew from his ongoing research with The Center for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety (CPBS), a Tier-1 University Transportation Center funded by the US Department of Transportation. Schneider also joined an expert panel on mobility and accessibility.

Assistant Professor Lauren Nolan presented research at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) conference about economic development subsidies for Amazon warehouse facilities and their connection to municipal fiscal distress in the Chicago region.

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Professor Schermer delivers talk at NC State, invited to write preface for forthcoming book

Oliver Jason Johnson — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 14:25:35 +0000

In October, Professor Brian Schermer visited NC State’s College of Design to deliver a talk titled The Amphibious Design Researcher and meet with PhD students. His talk explored how architectural research moves between the high, hard ground of theory and the murky swamplands of practice—where evocative ideas from both realms inspire design thinking and compelling research questions.

Professor Schermer was also invited to write the preface for a forthcoming book celebrating the legacy of Professor Henry Sanoff, who founded NC State’s PhD in Design program 25 years ago. The book honor Sanoff’s influential contributions to participatory design and design education.

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Robert Schneider and students co-author national report on pedestrian safety

Oliver Jason Johnson — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 21:57:55 +0000

Dr. Robert Schneider and Master of Urban Planning students Bryan Walter, Natalie Marshall, and William Henning led the literature review and national pedestrian fatal crash modeling analysis for The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 1157, “”

The guide from this project provides safe system strategies to reduce nighttime pedestrian risk. Managing speeds (e.g., road lane reconfiguration, speed feedback signs, automatic speed enforcement, lower speed limits) is a key strategy that will improve safety for pedestrians as well as all other roadway users at night.

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Architecture graduate turns internship into full time role

Oliver Jason Johnson — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 17:58:00 +0000

Haley Grube (MArch 2025) has been hired at Appleton-based project management firm Hoffman Planning, Design, & Construction as a designer. Grube is part of a company initiative to promote college interns into full-time employees’ post-graduation. Grube began working under Hoffman as an intern during summer 2022, since becoming a project designer for the company.

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Architecture professor works with History Project team to reunite pioneers of Milwaukee’s queer scene with historical venue

Fri, 16 May 2025 02:39:00 +0000

In a feature by Michail Takach for OnMilwaukee, Assistant Professor Adam Thibodeaux is recognized for his role in reconnecting former patrons of Milwaukee’s historic Neptune Club with the long-vacant building that once housed the venue. Working alongside the LGBTQ History Project, Thibodeaux contributes architectural insight and contextual research to support the group’s preservation efforts.

“The intention behind establishing a partnership between SARUP and the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project was primarily as an extension of my efforts to establish reciprocal relationships between academia and activist practices,” Thibodeaux explains.

Read the full story on .

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